What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-4EF36-0AE0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection — meaning it sits upstream of a feeder or distribution board, not on a motor branch. It carries a continuous current rating of 160 A, and the TM240 thermal-magnetic release provides fixed thermal and magnetic trip settings for overload and short-circuit protection. Breaking capacity reaches 121 kA at 240 V AC, 75.6 kA at 415 V, and 52.5 kA at 440 V — numbers that tell you it can clear high-fault currents in a low-voltage industrial distribution panel without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream.
Ratings and what they mean for fit
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C, then derates gradually to 144 A at 70 °C. That means in a warm cabinet — say 55 °C — you still have 153.6 A continuous capacity, so the breaker doesn't force a de-rate of the downstream load unless ambient exceeds 50 °C. The TM240 release is a thermal-magnetic type with adjustable long-time delay (tr max. 1 s at 6× Ir per), suited for general distribution where you need fixed magnetic pickup and a thermal curve that tracks cable heating. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the breaker is suitable for 690 V line-to-line systems — the 11.9 kA breaking capacity at 690 V confirms it can interrupt faults on a 690 V network, though that capacity is lower than at 400 V class. The IP40 rating on the front means the breaker face is protected against tools and solid objects over 1 mm, but not sealed against moisture — standard for indoor panel mounting.
Auxiliary contacts and integration
This variant ships with four auxiliary switches (HQ type —), giving you status feedback for remote monitoring or PLC inputs without adding a separate contact block. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no communication module — it's a plain line-protection MCCB with auxiliary contacts for indication. The 70 mm depth and 76.2 mm width are standard for the 3VA frame; it mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-fixed in a panel. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.